scholarly journals Death Anxiety, Immortality Projects and Happiness: A Utilitarian Argument Against the Legalization of Euthanasia

Conatus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
Donovan Van der Haak
Keyword(s):  
Death Anxiety ◽  
Significant Degree ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Voluntary Euthanasia ◽  
Dying Patients ◽  
Human Decision ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Shed Light

The current, utilitarian debate on the relation between euthanasia and happiness focusses primarily on the subject of dying patients. Where some utilitarians stress how euthanasia may relieve suffering in the process of dying, others emphasize the importance of respecting the autonomy of others to make decisions like these themselves.  However, less attention has been paid to how legalizing euthanasia may impact the human decision-making processes of those still in a healthy and mentally sound state. This paper aims to shed light on this relatively underdeveloped subject within utilitarian theory. In particular, I focus on euthanasia’s most contested form: active, voluntary euthanasia. I draw on Ernst Becker,  who argues that moderate death anxiety stimulates people to work on ‘immortality projects,’ decisions that help them cope with the concept of death. Subsequently, I draw on several studies to defend the notion that immortality projects are indirectly conducive to happiness because they stimulate healthy decisions and long-term, human progress. Additionally, immortality projects counterbalance decisions that are based on an excessive drive for short-term pleasure. As euthanasia can make dying less painful, I argue it may diminish death anxiety to significant degree, and thereby also an incentive to work on immortality projects. This brings me to the conclusion that legalizing euthanasia is problematic from a utilitarian point of view, considering the observation that immortality projects are indirectly conducive to happiness.

scholarly journals Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Review from Islamic Point of View

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousuf RM ◽  
Mohammed Fauzi AR
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Health Care Delivery System ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Physician Assisted Suicide ◽  
Dying Patients ◽  
Practice Of Medicine ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Lay Public

Due to globalizing trend of homogenisation of culture, changes in the health care delivery system and market economics infringing on the practice of medicine, there has been a gradual shift in the attitude of the medical community as well as the lay public towards greater acceptance of euthanasia as an option for terminally ill and dying patients. Physicians in developing countries come across situations where such issues are raised with increasing frequency. As the subject has gained worldwide prominence, we want to review this topic from Islamic perspective due to its significance in medical ethics and clinical practice.

Naturalism and Kantianism

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-123
Author(s):  
Valentin A. Bazhanov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Research ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Long Term Results ◽  
External Data ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Brain

An article by T. Rockmore, published in the journal “Epistemology and Philosophy of Science” in 2009 (Vol. XXII. No. 4, pp. 14‒29), claim that naturalism is by its nature an example of anti-Kantianism, for it treats philosophy as a continuation science and recognizes science as a legitimate source of knowledge, does not allow a priori, relies on an a posteriori approach, empiricism in the pre-Kantian sense, and insists on the possibility of revising the knowledge acquired. This article has a goal to show that T. Rockmore point of view should be revised due to the progress of modern cognitive research and, first of all, neuroscience, in which all the features of the naturalistic approach are implemented and in which the “Kantian program” of brain research is developed. In the context of this program, the existence on the ontological level (i.e., in the brain) of certain neural structures that make it possible and play a crucial role in the cognitive activity of a person is recognized. Those concepts that Kant treated as components of cognitive activity in modern neuroscience acquired ontological status in the form of the activity of certain neural structures, which turn out to be prerequisites and components of this activity. We claim that in the context of the Kantian research program in neuroscience, the metaphor “Kantian brain” naturally entered the vocabulary of neuroscientists, and certain specific operations and functions of the brain began to be associated with individual elements of Kant's ideas. It is in this context attempts are made to comprehend the mechanisms of the brain in the “stimulus – activity” mode, when an external effect leads to the excitation of certain neural structures. The brain is capable to anticipate the long-term results of certain actions of the subject. In the case of foresight, the brain generates “internal” models and uses for their correction external data that constantly provided from reality across the subject. At the same time, some kind of self-correcting mechanisms implements, which from a formal point of view described by the Bayes theorem, using a priori evaluations of upcoming events and changes in these evaluations as result of experience. Thus, naturalism and Kantianism understood in the context of the progress of modern science, despite T. Rockmore idea, are completely compatible.

scholarly journals TALENT MANAGEMENT AS A NEW FORM OF SUSTAINABLE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (9) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Robel Ogbazghi
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources Management ◽  
Talent Management ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Student Survey ◽  
Online Student ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
The Subject ◽  
A Company ◽  
Do So

Even though several researchers investigated the topic talent management, only few presented it with relation to the subject sustainability. A sustainable approach is a key criterion for the implementation of a successful talent management process. To do so, it is important to understand the current needs of students, which represent the talents. The aim of the research study is to develop the awareness of sustainable talent management and to find out what conditions must be met by employers to be seen as an attractive and long-term employer on the part of students, which represent the talents and future leaders.Research methodology consists of a literature review followed by an empirical investigation using an online student survey. The results of the student survey, however, are intended to help understanding the position of students in this topic today. What are the working needs and conditions that are important to them, and what are imperative requirements from the students’ point of view to secure a long-term commitment to a company?Overall, this article includes 24 sources of literature, the results of an online student survey with 132 participants from 18 countries, 6 figures and tables. 

Identità e autonomia: due nozioni alla prova del morbo di Alzheimer / Identity and autonomy: two notions at the test bed of Alzheimer’s disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 451-463
Author(s):  
Stefano Fuselli
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Theoretical Point ◽  
Conceptual Level ◽  
Test Bed ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Practical Level

Il morbo di Alzheimer è una patologia i cui effetti non sono dirompenti solo sul piano pratico, per i pazienti e i loro familiari o per il sistema socio-assistenziale, ma anche sul piano concettuale. Esso infatti mette a dura prova le correnti nozioni di identità e autonomia del soggetto, con notevoli conseguenze, prima ancora che sul piano pratico, sul piano teorico. Muovendo dal dibattito bioetico attuale, questo contributo intende portare allo scoperto quanto nel dramma dell’Alzheimer si manifesta circa la nozione di identità e di autonomia. La prospettiva prescelta non è pratica ma è teoretica, volta cioè non tanto al da-farsi ma al da-guardarsi. ---------- The effects of Alzheimer’s Disease are disruptive on a practical level for patients and their families as well as for the healthcare system. They are also disruptive on a conceptual level, because they challenge the current notions of identity and autonomy of the subject. The consequences are relevant first and foremost from a theoretical point of view rather than from a practical one. By considering the present debate in bioethics, this contribution aims to shed light on what AD can reveal about the notions of identity and autonomy. The perspective is a theoretical rather than a practical one, because it focuses on what has to be looked at rather than on what has to be done.

scholarly journals A Framework to Incorporate Biological Soil Quality Indicators into Assessing the Sustainability of Territories in the Ecuadorian Amazon

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 3007
Author(s):  
Thony Huera-Lucero ◽  
Juana Labrador-Moreno ◽  
José Blanco-Salas ◽  
Trinidad Ruiz-Téllez
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Tropical Rainforest ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Territorial Development ◽  
Practical Utilization ◽  
Amazonian Ecuador ◽  
Ecuadorian Amazon ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Quality Indexes

In Amazonian Ecuador, land-use change from tropical rainforest to different productive purposes is leading to irreversible situations from an environmental perspective. The objective of this paper was to highlight the significance of the biological components in the soils in Amazonian Ecuador, and the importance of considering biological soil quality indexes when assessing environmental impacts in the soils of tropical Pan-Amazonian areas. Since the literature on the subject is dispersed and inaccessible, a bibliographic review was conducted, with the aim of compiling protocols and proposals for practical utilization. We compiled tables, including specific indicators from the biological point of view. We present the available methods for assessing the sustainability of Amazonian territories through the analysis of soil quality. Our contribution facilitates an edaphic perspective to be taken into account in decision-making processes for sustainable territorial development.

scholarly journals Philosophical Essence of Democracy

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 140
Author(s):  
Ferit Baça
Keyword(s):  
Social Systems ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Natural State ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Constitutional Democracy ◽  
Important Group ◽  
Democratic Regimes ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Shed Light

Democracy is the product of the politico - economical systems of human society and is always evaluated from the point of view of the populace representation and their role. Continuously, to the democracy, are devoted countless number of theories which intent to explain the causes of the birth of democratic regimes and the power of civil society within such social systems. But in the philosophical plane, require answers a number of questions related to its origin and need, such as: Why did mankind leave the natural state of freedom when it was governed only by the instincts and the law of the jungle? What factors were imposed on the natural state of freedom and called to the stage of history the need for democracy? According to philosophers who refer to the determining role of elites, society is perceived as a single pyramid, at the head of which stands the elite of society itself. Philosophers, who refer to the role of pluralism, represent society as a number of billiard balls which collide with one another and with the governance itself, by producing the respective policies. Both views can be discussed. A society can be seen in the shape of a pyramid led by its elites. Robert Dahl called this kind of democracy a "polyarchy", which means leaded by the leaders of various groups who have managed to have an understanding with one another, while another scholar Arend Lijphart has called it "constitutional democracy". He argues that elites of every important group reach an agreement to run society under constitutional rules. This study provides a detailed analysis of the notion of "Democracy" seen from the point of view of elitism and pluralism. The breadth and depth of the subject consists of an intricate initiative in itself, for the fact that no study, old or new, or even all of the studies together on this subject, with all the depth and attentive care, can be complete, let alone conclusive, when they try to shed light on the etymological roots of humanity's democracy, on the abysses and the depths that it needs to overcome at present, as well as in its future. The study also puts forward a number of concerns related to the implementation of democracy as a theory and as a practice.

Revision of the Collision Regulations: An Interim Report

1970 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 448-455 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Collision Avoidance ◽  
Working Party ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Final Report ◽  
Interim Report ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Precise Form ◽  
Safety Committee ◽  
The Subject

The Collision Regulations are due for revision by Imco in 1972 and already governments and other agencies are formulating proposals for consideration by its Maritime Safety Committee. The Institute's working party on the subject, which was formed initially to try to lessen the area of disagreement between people who had put forward positive proposals over the last few years, has now formed a cohesive view and formulated a set of recommendations. These are given in the interim report which follows. In the normal course of events things would have been allowed to run their course and the final report published only after further meetings of the working party which has still to reach firm conclusions on a number of points (for example on the precise form of the manœuvring diagram referred to at the end of Section 2 and in proposition (14), and on the whole question of lights). However, time is short and it seems probable that if the views of the working party are to have any effect on the deliberations of Imco, they must be made known straight away. The report (of which M. W. Richey is the author), therefore, which embodies the whole area of agreement between the members of the working party, is published here in interim form.Dr. Calvert has expressed some unease from his own point of view about propositions (1) to (19) and it is hoped in the final report to publish an appendix by him suggesting a totally new approach to the whole problem of collision avoidance by manœuvre. It is hoped also to publish an appendix by Admiral García Frías describing the system he proposes. Both these contributions are perhaps likely to be of long-term rather than immediate significance.

Electronic Word of Mouth

2016 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Rym Srarfi Tabbane ◽  
Mohsen Debabi
Keyword(s):  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Viral Marketing ◽  
Electronic Word Of Mouth ◽  
Related Literature ◽  
Important Concept ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Buzz Marketing ◽  
Shed Light

Because of its great impact on the consumer's behavior, electronic Word Of Mouth (eWOM) has become an important concept for the researchers and during the last decade, a great deal of attention was paid to the concept of eWOM. However, despite the growing number of studies on the subject, related literature remains fragmented, possibly affecting the long term development of the eWOM research. Fragmentation of this research can be traced back to a lack of conceptualization of the term eWOM. Therefore, this chapter proposes to highlight the great impact of eWOM on consumer's behavior and to shed light on this concept. Then, this chapter will first introduce the context in which eWOM takes place, define the concept and distinguish it from other close concepts like traditional word of mouth, buzz marketing and viral marketing. At the end, the last section will focus on the importance given by consumers to eWOM.

scholarly journals Epigenomic profile and biological age

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e37125
Author(s):  
Denise Cantarelli Machado
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Biological Age ◽  
Biological Aging ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Epigenetic Alterations ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Shed Light

Man ages at a constant chronological rate while their biological aging rate is extremely variable. Interventions to improve, or to slow the rate of biological aging are the subject of several research. The broad spectrum of molecules and its intricate role from the biological point of view and its relation with environmental factors are being investigated. Recently, researchers have been putting its efforts to understand the epigenetic mechanisms and how it can interfere with alterations in gene expression that leads to predisposition and, or pathological outcome. Some of these investigations have shed light about how one can determine the biological age from a simple blood sample, just by detecting the epigenetic alterations on only three CpGs sites with a reasonable certainty. Also, the enzymes inhibitors that can interfere with methylation and demethylation were effective to reverse the epigenetic mechanisms. Other studies have shown how the environmental changes since from early life can affect these alterations on the epigenome. Taking all together, some biomolecular markers are already available to determine the genetic background of an individual and this information can be used to guide the lifestyle in order to prevent some future diseases development and/or improve the quality of later life.

Death Anxiety, Disclosure Behaviors, and Attitudes of Oncologists toward Terminal Care

1991 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce B. Cochrane ◽  
Marvin R. Levy ◽  
John E. Fryer ◽  
Carole A. Oglesby
Keyword(s):  
New Jersey ◽  
Terminal Care ◽  
Death Anxiety ◽  
Repeated Exposure ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Dying Patients ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
High Death ◽  
Terminal Prognosis

Relationships among death anxiety, disclosure behaviors, and attitudes of oncologists toward terminal care were examined by means of a questionnaire responded to by ninety-nine members of the Oncology Society of New Jersey. Death anxiety scores were lower for oncologists than typically reported for physicians in general. Oncologists with low death anxiety scores related to dying patients more effectively than oncologists with high death anxiety scores. Short-term repeated exposure to dying patients resulted in comfort with dying patients while long-term repeated exposure resulted in discomfort. Disclosure to patients' families was clearly a more frequently reported behavior than disclosure to the patient. Oncologists who did not always disclose a terminal prognosis to the patient reported difficulty with disclosure, tried to avoid direct disclosure, and were not as comfortable with dying patients as with other patients.

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